The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and required by many graduate degree programs for admission. In addition to the general test, there are several subject tests, including Psychology, which are required by some graduate departments. The Psychology subject test gauges the test-taker's knowledge of experimental and natural science psychology, social psychology, and general psychology. It is offered several times a year and costs $140 in the United States and $160 in other countries. For students with a strong background in psychology, preparation essentially involves reviewing undergraduate course material; for those without such a background, test preparation requires learning a large amount of new subject matter.

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Steps

1

Familiarize yourself with the structure of the test.

The test is taken on paper and consists of about 205 multiple-choice questions, each with about five answer choices. Some questions are grouped together around a graph or experiment summary. Your final score is scaled and will range from 200 to 800. Two subscores from 20 to 99 ranking your grasp of experimental psychology and social psychology will also be given.

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2

Learn what areas of psychology are covered on the test.

Check the ETS website for updates about the test's subject matter. In general, 40 percent of the questions will cover experimental psychology, including learning, language, memory, thinking, sensation and perception, and psychological and behavioral neuroscience; 43 percent of the questions will cover social psychology, including clinical and abnormal psychology, lifespan development, personality, and social issues; general psychology and methodology account for the final 7 percent.

3

Rank your knowledge of each psychology subfield from most comprehensive to least.

4

Begin studying the subfield of which you have the least comprehensive knowledge.

5

Consult class notes and textbooks from previous psychology study, or purchase introductory-level textbooks in the various psychology subfields.

6

Take notes on major psychologists, experiments, phenomena, and biological processes.

7

Memorize names, dates, and figures central to important studies or discoveries.

8

Outline the major principles and developments within each psychology subfield.

9

Familiarize yourself with the methodological norms of different areas of psychology.

10

Focus on the social application of different psychological breakthroughs.

11

Take at least one practice exam at least one month before the test.

Practice GRE Psychology exams are available from ETS and in many mass-market test preparation textbooks.

12

Identify which areas of the exam you need to study.

13

Focus on these areas by seeking out additional study materials such as textbooks or test preparation books.

14

Use flashcards or other visual aids to reinforce memorization.

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Tips

For those who have not previously studied psychology, a good strategy is to purchase an introductory psychology textbook and review all the material inside. After that, purchase introductory textbooks for the various subfields and work through those.

Some Psychology graduate programs require the GRE subject test while others do not. Check which programs do require the test (and what score they require, if applicable) before committing yourself to preparing for the exam and to give yourself a good idea of scoring requirements.

The GRE exam in Psychology is designed to test a general undergraduate knowledge of the subject; as such, the material covered is greater than that usually included in a general introductory psychology course and will include material from more advanced study.

For those who need greater preparation or who to prefer to study under someone else's direction, a test preparation book, tutor, or test preparation class may be a good idea. Start these preparation programs at least two months before you plan on taking the test.